Bobcats hope to stay on track vs. Warriors

Basketball Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats are coming off a huge win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, and hope to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot when they resume a three-game homestand tonight versus the Golden State Warriors.

Charlotte, which is one game out of the playoff picture in the East, opened the residency last night with a sound 98-83 triumph over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Stephen Jackson scored 21 points and Gerald Wallace added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who entered the game with five losses in their last six tries.

"When we play as a team on both ends, we give ourselves a chance to win," said Bobcats head coach Larry Brown. "This is a great win, but we have to understand why we won tonight. We defended; we shared the ball pretty good."

Tyrus Thomas contributed 14 points and nine boards, as the Bobcats cruised to the win thanks to a 51.4 shooting percentage. Charlotte will also host Miami on the homestand and is 21-8 as the host this season. The Heat are one game ahead of the Bobcats for the eighth and final postseason spot.

The road woes continued for Golden State on Friday, when they dropped a 127-122 decision in Atlanta to fall to 0-3 on a five-game road trip.

Rookie Stephen Curry recorded 31 points and 11 assists, while Anthony Morrow had 21 points for the Warriors, who ran their season-high road losing streak to nine straight games. C.J. Watson added 20 points in defeat.

"We played a pretty darn good game. Again, we had a chance. We needed to make a couple shots down the stretch, which we didn't do, and they made the free throws and did the right things," said Warriors coach Don Nelson, who is still seven victories away from breaking Lenny Wilkens' all-time record of 1,332 wins.

Warriors leading scorer Monta Ellis has missed the last four games and is out indefinitely. Center Andris Biedrins (groin) has been out three straight games and will be re-evaluated on Monday. Golden State will also visit New Orleans on the trek and owns a 4-26 road record this season.

Charlotte defeated Golden State, 121-110, back on January 29 in Oakland, as Jackson shined in his return to the Bay Area by pouring in 30 points. The Bobcats have won two straight against the Warriors.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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